Automatic gun.



A. V. P. M. BERTHIER.

AUTOMATIC GUN. APPLIOATION FILED JUNB'Z, 1905.

$1,646. I Pate'nted Apr. 20, 1909.

2 SBEETSAHEET '1.

' fizz filial M?? I I A. V. P. M. BERTHIER.

AUTOMATIC GUN.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2, 1905.

- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Apr. 20; 1908.

unrrn s'ra I. ATE? FFECE.

ANDRE VIRGILE PAUL MARIE BERTHIER, OF CONSTANTINOPLE, TURKEY.

aurorrarrc eon.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented s in e0, ieoe.

Application riled June 2, 1905. Serial No. ZESAM).

ful Improvements in Automatic Guns, of

' which the following is a specification.

. sectional 'Ihis-invention relates to new and useful improvements in automatic guns and it has for its object the provision of a novel device of this character wherein the force necessary to the operation of the mechanisms of the gun is borrowed'from the gases evolved at the moment of firing.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a gun wherein the several parts thereof will be simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and eflicient in practice.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the details cl construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying draw.- ings forming a part parts in the several views, in which- Figure 1, is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section of a fragment of a gun Willi the invention applied thereto. Fig. 2, is a lon itudinal section of F1". 1. Fig. 3 is a view of a stop employed in the invention. Fig. 4, is a plan view of the trigger mechanism. Figs. 5 and 6, are views in detail of the firingpin and its operating lever. Fig. 7, is a view taken on the line 77 of Fig. 2. Fig. 8, is a fragmentary View in elevation of a gun with the invention applied thereto. Fig. 9, is a sectional view taken. on the line 9--9 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10, is a detail view of the operating lever. Fig. 11, is a sectionai detail view of the cylinder employed in the invention. Fig. 12, is a side elevation of the magazine em loyed in this invention. Fig. 13, is an end c ovation thereof; Fig, 14, is a section taken on the line 14-14 of Fig. 1, illustrating the magazine in position. Figs. 15, 16, and 17, illustrate a modified form of the inven tion.

'lhis gun comprises in its construction, what may be termed an automatic mechanism, a closing mechanism, a trigger mechanism and a magazine.

The automatic mechanism more particularly illustrated in Figs. 8, 9, and 11, com

' a piston rod 8,

' suitable way of this specification wherein like characters denote corresponding sists of a cylinder formed in'two sections, section 1, being stationary and formed integral with the breech box, while the other sec-. tion 2, is removable and has its rear end engaged in the first section and its front end screwed into the thickened portion 3, of the barrel, where the gas 15 taken out. The thickened portion 3, is rel and is provided with a tended to admit the gases. I

ortion 3, receives, as before stated, tront end cylinder. In the outer end of the section 2', of the cylinder is arranged -a screw 5, which. screw controls the volume of the chamber within the section, and threaded through the thickened portion 3, is a screw valve 7, which controls the admission of the gases through the passage 4.

assage 4, in

i'iaving the head 6, and tightening washer 9,

rounding the piston rod. The piston rod 8,

in practice, is connected at its rear end in any to the cylinder-actuating lever,

hereinafter described.

The closing mecl'iamsm comprises in its construction three parts; the bolt 11, the

actuating lever 18, carried by the firing pin, and the extractor 17. The bolt 11, carries, at its front, two symmetric locking lugs 14, 15. In the body of the bolt is a groove 16, which begins at its front end and is parallel to the axis of the bolt a distance determined by the stroke of the tirin pin at the moment of firing. At this point t io rectilinear groove integral with the bar his thickened oi the movable section 2, of the Within the'cyhnder extends and a spiral spring 10,su-r.

is changed into a liclicoidal incline, the length of which corresponds to a certain rotation of the iholt, 70, in the view illustrated. The helic'oidal part of the groove then extends transversely bolt carries the extractor 17, which-partakes of its motion. The extractor may be mounted upon a ring but does not rotate. The cylinder has at its lower part a groove n, the width of "which is equal to the thickness of the heel q, of the ejector and another small groove 12, the suuillcr width of which is equal to the thickness of the nose I), of the ejector; These two grooves are sepamted from each other in such a manner that the incline which terminates the groove m, causes the ejector E, to be tilted around its tenon t, and the nose 3), to take behind the cartridge 0, which i drawn backward in the. cylinder. The cartridge thus stopped in its motion, occidlates around the claw oi the extractor 17 and a distance about its width. The

nected with it.

is projected outside. When the cylinder comes back to close again, the nose b, is raised when it meets the incline terminating the groove n; the heel q, engages the groove in, and inno way hinders the motion of the cylinder. The operating lever 18, and the firing pin 12, are integraland upon the firing pin is'formed a tenon 19, which rides in the groove of the bolt as before described. Although not shown, mentibn may be made of the f act that in lieu of one tenon, a plurality of the same maybe em loyed.

When the firing pin as been-thrown forward, the lever 18, is drawn back along the gun either by exertinga traction'al effect on the handle or by the action of the gases borrowed from those which are evolved at the moment of firing. It first accomplishes the rectilinearstroke correspondingto the distance necessary for insuring the ercussion. At this moment, the tenon 19, o the firing pin, which up to this time -has 'moved in a rectilinear groove of the bolt, encounters the helicoidal part 16, of the groove. The firing pin, which is kept by its lever engaged in a uide groove 20', of the receiver, is prevented from rotating, and continuing its backward motion it forces the bolt torotate -from the right to the left, until said locking lugs 14 and 15, are disengaged completely. The bolt may articipate inthe rectilinear motion of the ever, but it is not sufficiently con- In order to obtain this result, the grooves 21, for the passage of the lugs in the receiver,c0mprise at their front an inclined portion 22, the inclination of which is such that the bolt engaging it by means of its lugs continues its rotation to the left about 40, when the latter rotation is effected. The lockin lugs are horizontal. The tenon 19, of the iring pin has then engaged the transverse part of the groove of the bolt and the connection of the two ieces is omplete. The movement of the c osing nefhanism is then reversed carrying with the shell just dischar ed until the shell meets I with the ejector whic 1 throws it out of the receiver. The upper cartridge of the magazine is raised andplaced in advance of the bolt. At this moment, the action of the borrowed gases is determined. They esca e throu h the opening a,-Fig. 8, of the c lin er 2, ant the spring 10, acting against t 1e rear face of the piston head 6, carries the closing mechanism ahead. The reverse movements of those which have been explained before for the o ening, are roduced. The, bolt rotates an closes itse f again.

The trigger mechanism comprisesa sear 23, carrying at its rear, between the tail 24, and its ivot 25, an arm' 26, into which is screwe one or more coils of the coiled spring 27, which is intended to act not only as a v spring forthe sear, but as a triggerspring. Y I

zinc in position.

ready for use.

The gun being cooked, the action of the finger on the trigger 28, causes it to oscillate around the pivot. The heel 29 of the trigger which consists of a detent pivoted to the [trigger 28 at 30, and having a spring 31,

which has a constant tendency to force said heel back, contacts with the tail of the sear and raises the same until the head 23, of

the sear clears the passage and allows the cartridge to be fired. The heel of the trigger, owing to its special form (F ig. 4) escapes and is carried in front of the tail 24 of the sear, which, under the action ofits spring returns to its normal position.

Y'Vhen the pull on the trigger is released,

the trigger is carried back to its original position by the spring of the sear. The

eel of the trigger is closed and meets with the tail of the sear and when it has passed the tail. it returns to its former position under the tail.

The receiver may be kept opened at will by a stop 32, havin the same shape as the head of the sear. he stop 32,. is held normally in position for action by a coiled spring 33, saidstop having its head projecting into the receiver. When the automatic feature of the gun is to be employed, the stop 32, is lowered and kept in this position by a small shaft 33, arran ed transversely of the receiver and provir ed with a radial arm 35, which when turned down upon the'stop depresses the same and holds it out of action.

-The magazine 36, is made of one piece of sheet metal preferably steel and is adapted to contain an odd number of cartridges 37, arranged asshown in Figs. 2 and 14. The magazine is'placed into the gun from below. A tongue 38, is cut out from the rear part of the magazine and has its free end curved outwardly in order to act as what might be termed a pushmember. This tongue is also slightly convexed toward the exterior in order to ive it a spring action.

Struck out of the tongue 38, are two projections 39, and 40, which are intended to engage the receiver and to hold the maga- When the upper projection 40, of the tongue engages the receiver, the first cartridge of the magazine cannot be engaged bythe bolt and thereby provides a safety. Pressure exerted upon the magazine permits the engagement of the second tongue 39, and the gun is then Arranged at the top of the magazine on opposite sides thereof, are two cheeks 44, for guiding the cartridge which is about to be introduced intothe receiver. The follower 41,. made of bent steel sheet acts as an elevator which is continuously pushed toward the top by the action of the spring 42. The follower is provided with a projection 43', obtained by stamping, which is placed beneath the lowermost cartridge which receives the borrowed gas, instead,

of being arranged on the side of the barrel is arranged under it. To this end, inorder to avoid hindranceby the magazine, the cylinder has been. ,somevvha advanced, making it, if necessary, a li tle shorter. The spring is then arranged in a corresponding manner.

The arrangement of the gas inlet and the.

construction of the piston head and .the other features of the invention are the same as those described with reference to the first or preferred form. On the rear part of the piston rod is mounted, at right angles, an arm 45, connected to a flat rod 46, the section of which may be seen in Fig. 16. This figure shows a transverse section of the device taken at the place where the barrel is thicker, while Fig. 15, is a view taken from below the gun without a stop.

Fig. 17, is a section similar to that of Fig. 9.

The rod 46, is guided in-thc way 4?, 1 varing a corresponding shape and arranged in the receiver in such a manner that the projection thus formed on the side of the gun is very small. it is furthermore completely hidden by the barrel of the gun and 'linally the blade 46, may be connected in any convenient manner to the actuating lever ol' the tiring pin as before stated. The function of hereinbefore described.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by L tters Patent, is-

1. A gun of the classdescribed comprising a cylinder arranged to connnunicate with the barrel-chamber and containing a springpressed piston adapted to be actuated by the gases of the explosion in one direction, a receiver, a bolt arranged in said receiver adapted to be operated by said piston and equipped with locking lugs and having a groove therein parallel with the bolt axis for a certain portion thereof, said groove being of a helicoidal outline for the rest of its area, and a firing pin having connection with said bolt by means of said groove, and a member thereon engaging said groove, said bolt locking lugs having sliding engagement with said receiver.

2. A gun of the class described comprising a cylinder arranged to communicate with the barrel-chamber and containing a resiliently held piston adapted to be actuated by the gases of the explosion in one direction, a receiver, a bolt adapted to be operated by said piston having locking lugs engaging grooves 1n sald receiver, said bolt also having a groove therein parallel with the bolt axis for I,

a portion of itsarea and helicoidal in outline for its remaining area, and a firing pin havilig' a lug and connection with said bolt by means of said lug engaging the said groove.

in testimony whereof I have hereunto setmy hand in presence of two witnesses.

ANDRE Villtilbll l.\Ub Milli lihli'lllllill.

Witnesses:

l). Sin'rn-lmrn, (n.w. ll. W. 'lrcnnn. 

